Water conditioner dispenser for clothes washing machines



S. L. MCMILLAN 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WATER CONDITIONER DISPENSER FOR CLOTHESWASHING MACHINES u .m -V .17 o 7 L 2 |\\\|d|\. Illl l 4 u l lwfllllu InIP "`x` JIT- y m M, L s n lim q n m .M W r/2 4 W u .//f 1|. 3- 2 ,K 3 wF July 28, 1964 Filed June 27, 196s July 28, 1964 s. l.. MC'MILLAN WATERCONDITIONEIR DISPENSER FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES Filed June 27, 196:5

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July 28, 1964 Filed June 27, 1963 United States Patent O 3,142,165 WATERCONDITIONER DISPENSER FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES Stephen L. McMillan,Wheaton, Ill., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Filed June 27, 1963, Ser. No. 291,006 11 Claims. (Cl. 6817)This invention relates to clothes washing machines, and in particular,to a washing machine having means for adding a charge of detergent orother water conditioning material to the washing tub at an appropriatetime in the washing operations.

It is well known in the domestic clothes washing art that there are manysituations in which laundering resnlts are greatly improved by a washingmachine cycle of operations which includes two separate washing cycles,each of which uses a detergent solution. It is also well known that theremoval of lint or other water-borne detritus as a continuous processduring the washing and rinsing operations is an advantageous practice,for it is quite disturbing to the user to see light-colored fragments onarticles of dark-colored clothing as she is removing the articles at theend of the operational cycle of the machine.

I am well aware of lint-removal mechanisms in contemporary washingmachines, and of dispensing devices for adding charges of bleaches,fabric softeners, or the like at appropriate times in the washing andrinsing cycles. In washing machines of the vertical axis agitator type,for example, it is commonplace to mount a lint filter on the agitatoreither above or below the normal water level, and to arrange a Watercirculation system so that there is a more or less continuous flow ofwater through the lint lter. It is also commonplace to take advantage ofthe fact that in such vertical axis machines the agitator rotates withthe washing basket during the centrifugal extraction of the washing orrinsing liquid. F or example, some prior art dispensers, mounted on theagitator post, use centrifugal forces to transport a quantity of liquidrinse agent material from a reservoir compartment to a releasecornpartment as the tub is rotating to spin out the wash water. As thebasket and agitator come to a stop at the end of the spin cycle, theliquid drains into the tub from the release compartment. It issubsequently mixed with the incoming rinse water. A serions disadvantageof such devices is that they are useful only with liquid materials, andit is well known that many of the effective detergents, bleaches, andthe like are in powdered or pelletized form.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a dispensermechanism which is adaptable to liquid and dry types of detergents orother water conditioning materials.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dispenser mechanismwhich is mechanically associated with a lint-filter device.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a f dispensingmechanism which is maintained in a non-dispensing posture during aportion of a first operating cycle of a washing machine, and operated toa dispensing posture during a portion of a subsequent operational cycle.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a dispensermounted on the agitator post of a centrifugal extraction type of washingmachine whereby during a first washing cycle the dispenser is shieldedfrom the water action in the tub, but during the spin-out of wash water,is disposed in a second relationship in which water action will enterthe dispenser to introduce the water-conditioning materialinto the waterof the tub Vfor a subsequent washing or rinsing function.

In a presently preferred form, I apply my invention to a washing machineof the vertical-agitator, centrifugalextraction type, in which there isa continuous recirculay, 3,142,165 Patented July 28, 1964 tion of waterfrom and to the tub during the washing and rinsing operations. Therecirculation can be accomplished by any external pumping means by whichthe recirculated water is returned to the washing tub from a levelsuitably above the operating level of the Washing or rinsing liquid inthe tub. Such recirculation machines commonly employ lint-filtering panswhich are mounted on the agitator post above the normal water level inthe tub but in a position in which the recirculating liquid must passthrough the filtration mechanism. Within the lint filter I removablyposition an annular detergent container in a position in which it willintercept the recirculating water. I provide a diverter valve which isreleasably latched in a position in which it will prevent water flowinto the dispenser pan but does not impair the normal operation of thelint filter. The latch devices release in response to centrifugal forcesestablished during the rotation of the tub and agitator during thecentrifugal extraction of the wash water; the diverter valve is biasedto thereupon assume anew position in which it no longer precludes flowof water into the dispenser. Such flow occurs during a subsequentagitator operation. The resulting mixture of water and conditioningmaterial will then overflow the dispenser for passage into the lintfilter and from there into the washing tub. In embodiments of mydispenser particularly adapted to dry or pelletized detergents, theresulting mixture of water and detergent can drain into the lint lilterthrough a foraminated bottom wall of the dispenser. I wish it to beunderstood, however, that the invention is not in any sense limited to acombination of lint filter and dispenser; the dispenser may be usedentirely independent of any lint-filtering mechanism.

It is a feature of my invention that the dispenser cannot discharge theconditioning material into a dry tub, that is, into the tub at thecompletion of the Water extraction operation. This is important when thedispenser is used to add a bleach or similar material for subsequentoperation. The arrangement and operation of the dispenser in myinvention insure that the conditioning material will be diluted withwater before it can enter the tub, therefore eliminating the possibilityth'atthe clothes will be subjected to the possibly harmful action of anundiluted conditioning agent.

Other features and advantages of the invention will best be understoodfrom the following detailed description of` presently preferredembodiments read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation of a clothes washing machine embodying oneform of the invention, certain parts of the washing machine outer casingandV other mechanism being broken away to 'reveal underlying structure;Y FIG. 2 is a side sectional elevation of the transmission mechanism foroscillating the agitator during the washing and rinsing operations androtating the washing tub for centrifugal extraction of the washand'rinse waters; FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of theagitator and one form of the dispenser and lint filter, shown invertical section, and with the dispenser diverter valve in latchedposition; Y

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the valve in itsreleased position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view `of the dispenser and lint filter; y FIG. 5 isan enlarged view similar to thatof FIG. 3, but showing a second form ofdispenser as used without a lint filter; f

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary sectional View of the FIG. 5 dispenser, showingthe release of the valve structure as in FIG. 3a; and Y FIG. 6 is a topplan View of the dispenser of FIG. 5.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the clothes washer illustrated therein is ofthe familiar vertical-agitator, spin-tub type. An outer appearancecasing 1 is provided with a bottom bulkhead 2, welded or otherwisesecured within the casing to provide a water collection chamber 3 and amachinery compartment 4. Disposed within the latter compartment is aframe 5 mounted for gyratory movement about a pivot point P located in atransverse structural member at the base of the cabinet. Said framecarries a drive ymotor 6 disposed with its downwardly projecting shaftprovided with a drive sheave (not shown) and drivingly engaging therotor of a pump 7 which receives liquid from the compartment 3 by way ofan appropriate inlet in the bulkhead 2. Said inlet communicates with ahose 10 which comprises the inlet hose to the pump, The discharge hose11 from the pump is of the usual flexible rubber type which is adaptedto hook over the side of a laundry tub (not shown) to discharge thespent washing and rinsing liquid thereinto. The motor 6 is of thereversible, split-phase, induction type commonly in washing machine use;as is well understood in the art, when the motor operates in onedirection it operates the agitator for the Washing and rinsing function,and when operated in the other direction it rotates the clothes tub forcentrifugal extraction of water from the tub and contents thereof. Thepump 7 may be of any of the well known types in which, when the motor isoperating in the spin direction, it efficiently removes the water fromthe compartment 3, but when the motor is operated in the wash directionthe pump is not effective as a pumping mechanism.

The transmission 14 mounted within the frame 5 has a casing 15 about thelower portion of which a circular concentric skirt 16 provides a drivenclutch element within which is a uni-directional clutch 17, as wellknown in the art. The clutch is fixed to the sheave 18 from which thebelt 20 connects with the motor sheave. When the motor operates in thespin direction, the clutch 17 engages the skirt 16 to rotate the housingtherewith. By means of a conventional slip clutch 21 of the coil-springtype, the rotation of the sheave 18 in the wash direction transmitstorque to the main pinion shaft 22; in this direction of rotation, theclutch 17 is disengaged from the clutch member 16 so the drive torque isnot transmitted to the housing 15, it being understood that anyconventional braking or snubbing devices (not shown) may be used torestrain rotation or oscillation of the casing 15 during the washingoperation. During the spin operation the clutch 21 slips relative to thepinion shaft 22 whereupon no torque is transmitted thereto.

A sleeve 23 extending from the transmission housing 15 and coaxial withthe clutch member 16 and pinion shaft 22, is secured to a fixture 24 onwhich is mounted the clothes or washing tub 25, whereupon when thetransmission housing is rotated as aforesaid, the tub 25 rotatestherewith. A flexible rubber boot 26 fixed about the sleeve 23 andbulkhead 2, prevents passage of water into the machinery compartmentwhile permitting gyratory movement, as is well known in the art. A coilspring 27 between the frame 5 and damping devices (not shown) on theunderside of the bulkhead 2, serves to damp excessive gyrations, also aswell known in the art. Within the tub 25 and coaxial therewith is anagitator 28 from the relatively large diameter central post 30 of whichextend a plurality of vanes 31, said vanes being arranged as a spiral orscrew about the post 30, although this is not in any way a factorinfluencing the present invention. The agitator is secured to the upperend of an agitator shaft 32 journalled in the transmission casing asshown in FIG. 2; said agitator shaft passes axially through a sleeve 33which seals it against the water in the tub 25. Agitator shaft 32 isconnected by way of a sector gear 34 and a crank 35 (fragmentarily shownin FIG. 2) connected to the gear 36. Gear 36 is in mesh with the gearcluster 36a, in turn in mesh with the drive pinion 37 fixed to the endof the main pinion shaft 22; the agitator shaft has a pinion 38 in meshwith the sector gear 34. As is known in the art, rotation of gear 36 bypinion 3'7 and gear cluster 36a causes an oscillation of crank 35 andthe secto-r gear 34- to which it is afiixed; the sector gear in turnoscillates the shaft 32. Completing the general description of thewashing machine, the tub 25 is generally frusto-conical and isimperforate except for the row of apertures 40 through which water isejected into the compartment 3 during the centrifugal spin operation. Aring 41 of heavy material is carried at the top of the tub to contributea stabilizing influence during spin. A solenoid-operated Water valveassembly 42 has an inlet 43 arranged to be connected to the hot watersupply of the site of installation and an inlet 44 arranged to beconnected to the cold water supply, whereupon hot, coid, or tepid watercan be directed into the tub 25 by way of the valve outlet 45 as is wellknown. The top panel 46 of the casing 1 has an access lid 47 and acontrols compartment 43 within which are located various control devicesincluding the time-cycle controller 5b which conducts the washingmachine through an operation sequence which includes one or more washingand rinsing operations and intermediate centrifugal extractionoperations. The level of water indicated at FWL in FIG. l is typical ofa full fill for washing a full load of clothes. For light loads the usermay select a partial fill which would lower the water level about onethird.

As is Well known in the art and has been previously noted, thetransmission casing 15 is held against rotation during the oscillationof the agitator, but because of the locking effect of the various gearsof the transmission, the agitator shaft and thereon-affixed agitatorwill rotate with the transmission casing during a centrifugal extractioncycle. The present invention takes advantage of this rapid rotation ofthe agitator during the first of the extraction cycles, as presentlyexplained.

It has been previously noted that the invention is applied to a washingmachine in which a pumping mechanism effects a recirculation of thewater during the washing and the rinsing operations. In the illustratedembodiment this recirculation is preferably effected by the pumpmechanism which is built into the agitator post or center column 30, andarranged during the oscillation of the agitator to draw water from thelower portion of the washing tub and discharge it through the ports 52near the top of the agitator post. Said pump, which may be of theoscillating-vane type, is illustrated at 54 and may in all respects besimilar to the pump similarly illustrated in my presently copendingapplication, Serial No. 277,236, filed May l, 1963, and assigned to mypresent assignee.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the upper portion 54 of the agitator post isfrusto-conical in shape and is formed with a shoulder or step 5S at itsbase; said step serves to support an open-topped, annular, filter pan60, the base wall 61 of which is foraminated to filter out of the lint,etc., which may be in the water issuing from the ports 52. The innerwall 62 of the filter pan is shaped for a snug'frictional fit on theagitator post member 54; if desired, the member 54 and the wall 62 maybe shaped for a keying interfit. It is, of course, necessary for the pan60 to be readily removable without the use of tools and for the pan tospin with the agitator post during the centrifugal extraction cycle, aslater explained. It will be noted that the Wall 62 is below the level ofthe ports 52, whereas the radially outermost wall 63 is of sufficientheight to intercept water issuing from the ports 52 whereby thefiltering process is efficiently conducted. This is a matter ofimportance in the circumstance that the filter pan is used alone.

The filter pan is arranged to receive the detergent dispenser 70. Tomaintain the dispenser suitably above the foraminated bottom wall 61,the filter pan is shouldered as at 64; the dispenser ts snugly withinthe filter pan,

with the radially outermost wall 71 in frictional engagement with theouter wall 63 of the filter. T heinner wall 72 of the dispenser is lowerthan the wall 62 of the filter pan, and is spaced therefrom by anannular passage 73 of substantial width. Said passage 73 accommodatesthe agitator discharge when the dispenser is in place within the filterpan.

A diverter valve mechanism is provided to prevent discharge from ports52 reaching the contents of the detergent dispenser until after thefirst extraction of the water content of the wash tub. It is amechanically satisfactory arrangement to make the valve and itssettingand release mechanism a part of a cover structure which is used toprevent the splashing of water into the detergent pan during thevigorous water action which occurs during the washing cycle.Accordingly, I provide a sheet metal cover 74 having the downwardlyextending inner wall 75. This wall terminates in the inwardly extendingflange or base 76. The wall 75 carries, at two or three equally spacedintervals of its circumference, a leaf spring 77, each of whichterminates in a weighted latch 78, said latch having a sloping topsurface 80 and a sharp nose 81. The leaf springs bias their respectivelatch members in a radially inward direction. The valve member 82comprises a cylindrical sleeve having openings 83 which releasablyreceive the nose portions of the latch members. Said valve also has anoutwardly extending rim 84 between which and the base wall 76 of thecover, is confined a helical compression spring 85. Obviously, saidspring urges the valve member in an upward direction, but may beprevented from doing so by the latch members '78. Upward movement of thevalve is limited by the ultimate engagement of tabs 86 with theunderside of the base 76 of the cover wall 75.

It will be noted from comparison of FIGS. 3 and 3a that in its latchedposition the valve 82 extends below the upper edge of the filter wall 62and therefore fully covers the agitator ports 52. In the releaseposition shown in FIG. 3a, however, the valve comes to rest above theports 52 and is not therefore in a position to inter fere with radiallyoutward water flow from said ports. Throughout the washing operation,the water issuing from the apertures 52 will be intercepted by the valve82 and will be directed thereby through the annular passage 73, fromwhich it will enter the filter and return tothe tub through the bottomof the filter.

In preparing the washing machine for a washing operation, the user willprobably first remove the dispenser and its assembled cover from thelint filter to clear the latter of any lint which may have remained froma previous use. The cover 74 may be removed prior or subsequent to thereplacement of the dispenser within the lint iilter. The required amountof detergent or other water conditioning material is placed in thedispenser and the cover replaced. By pressing down on the ri-m 84 of thevalve, the valve will be moved downwardly against the latch elements,and, of course, the bottom edge of the valve will cam the latch elementsoutwardly. As the valve wall openings 83 come into position relative tothe latch members, the springs 77 will drive the respective latchingmembers 78 into the securement position of FIG. 3.

During the iirst washing action, the oscillation of the agitator and theassembly of the filter pan and dispenser does not generate suicientcentrifugal forces-to disengage the latch members from the valvestructure. The strength of the spring 85 is a factor in holding thelatches in their restraining position, for the spring obviouslycontributes to the degree of the frictional engagement between the latchmembers and the associated valve structure. t

When the tub and the agitator post commence their conjoint rotationinthe centrifugal extraction of the wash water, centrifugal forces willeventually overcome the frictional restraint on the latching elementsand oause them to move outwardly and release the valve for upwardmovement to the FIG. 3a position. It makes little diiference when in thecentrifuging operation this release occurs, for there will be no flow ofdetergent into the tub until the tub is again filled with wash or rinsewater` and the oscillation of the agitator produces the necessarydischarge of water through the ports 52. When this occurs the dispenserpan will be ooded because the diverter valve can no longer intercept thewater streams. A mixture of water and water conditioning material willsoon overflow the low wall 72 for passage through the channel 73 forflow into the filter 60 Iand thence to the tub. In view of the fact thatin any washing or rinsing cycle the agitator oscillates for severalminutes at least, there is no possibility that all of the detergentcontent of the dispenser will not have been dissolved.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the dispenser 90 is arranged for use`without the filter pan of the previous embodiment. Accordingly, thereservoir portion of the dispenser is defined by the outer wall 91, thebase wall 92, and the vertical wall 93, the latter terminating below theagitator ports 52, as shown. For mounting the dispenser on the agitatorpost, a suitablel pluralityof narrow-ribs 94 extend radially from thewall 93 to a circular wall\95 which frictionally ts on vthe agitatorpost portion 54. It will Ibe obvious that wall 95 functions in themanner of the wall 62 [of the dispenser of FIG. 3. The respective walls93 and 95 define between them the annular passage 96 through which watermay ow to the washing tub. It is'understood, of course, that thedetergent container 90 is well above the maximum fill level of the waterin the washing tub.

As in the previous embodiment, the valve release mechanism is'associated with a cover for the dispenser, although it is obvious thata simple inversion of the parts would place the latching means on thewall 93. However, in such an arrangement, the latohing elements might beburied in the detergent in the dispenser, and this could bedisadvantageous. As shown in itsrpreferred form, therefore, the cover 97has the downwardly extending inner wall 98 terminating in the inwardlyextending flange 100. At appropriate locations, wall 98 is provided withthe tabs 101 which provide stop elements for the latching devices 102,of which this embodiment has three. Each of the latches includes arectangular body portion 103, nonrotatably secured to a leaf spring 104,riveted at one end of the wall 98, as shown; the latches further includea head 105 having the sloping Vupper surface illustrated in FIG. 5. Thishead projects from ra stop plate 106. Although the stop plate willengage with the tab 101 to limit the outward movement of the latch, Iprefer toA provide a springable stop strip 107 which the end of the body103 will engage prior to the engagement of the plate 106 and tab 101.Stop strip 107 decelerates the latch before it comes to a final stop.

The valve 110 is similar in operation to that o-f FIG. 3,

but of somewhat distinctive structure. It may be molded from anysuitable plastic materials and has a at annular base 111 which fitsfreely overthe cylindrioalfupper member 112,01 the `agitator postelement 54 yand the nut 114 by which the agitator is secured to theagitator shaft (not shown). The shoulder 115 at the base of member 112is arranged sothat as the valve pl-ate 110 engages the shoulder, thelatches 102 will assume their latching position. The valve member isformed with the elongated sleeve 116 which has an aperture 117 toaccommodate each of the latches A102. A hook-like projection 118 at `thebase of sleeve 116 will engage with the edge of the flange 100 -to limitthe upward movement .of the valve, as shown in FIG. 5a. In thisembodiment I prefer to use a set of three compression springs 120, eachbeing contined within a pocket 121, best shown in FIG. 6.

' It has earlier been notedl that the dispenser is suitable for liquid,as :well as dry, detergents or water conditioning materials. In theembodiment of FIG. 5, the dispenser is provided with the inwardlyextending cap or flange 122, which will prevent the escape of liquiddetergent or the like during the centrifugal extraction of the washwater. It is well known, of course, that liquids move to the radiallyoutermost portion of a pan or tub as it is rotated on a vertical axis.Therefore, during the initial centrifugal extraction cycle, liquiddetergent or conditioning agent will accumulate as a cylindrical bodyagainst the dispenser wall 91.

The operation of the dispenser is in all respects similar to that ofFlG. 3 and need not again be described.

A feature of particular advantage in the present invention is that Ithepumping action of the agitator is always uniform and therefore thepressure and resulting trajectory of the streams discharging through theports 52 is uniform and will always clear the wall 93 to enter thereservoir portion of the dispenser.

While there has been described what is at present thought to be thepreferred embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that itis intended to cover in the appended claims all modifications which fallWithin the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a clothes washing machine having a tub within which clothes areWashed and rinsed in a body of water, an agitator having a central poststructure concentric with said tub, means for operating said agitator toeffect a first and a second washing action in said Water, means forrotating said agitator at high speed intermediate said washing actions,and means effective during each of said washing actions to dischargewater into said tub from above the surface of the water, the improvementcomprising:

a bowl adapted to receive a quantity of detergent and having a wall overwhich a mixture of detergent and water may be washed,

means for mounting said bowl on said agitator above the water level insaid tub,

means for establishing said bowl in a first relationship to the Waterdischarging means whereby to prevent the passage thereinto of waterissuing from said discharging means,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during high speedrotation of said agitator to dispose said bowl in a second relationshipto said water discharging means in which said bowl receives waterissuing from said discharging means, whereby the detergent content ofsaid bowl will be washed therefrom into said tub.

2. In a clothes washing machine having a tub within which clothes arewashed and rinsed in a body of water, an agitator having a central poststructure concentric with said tub, means for operating said agitator toeffect a first and a second washing action in said water, means forrotating said agitator at high speed intermediate said washing actions,and means effective during each of said washing actions to dischargeWater into said tub from above the surface of the water, the improvementcomprising:

a bowl adapted to receive a quantity of detergent and having a wall overwhich a mixture of detergent and water may be washed,

means for mounting said bowl on said agitator above the water level insaid tub,

a diverter valve intermediate said water discharge means and said bowl,

means for establishing said diverter valve in a first relationship tothe water discharging means whereby to prevent the passage into saidbowl of Water issuing from said discharging means,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during high speedrotation of said agitator to dispose said diverter valve in a secondrelationship to said water discharging means whereby said bowl receiveswater issuing from said discharging means 8 and the detergent content ofsaid bowl will be washed therefrom into said tub. Y

3. In a clothes washing machine having a tub within which clothes arewashed and rinsed in a body of water, an agitator having a central poststructure concentric with said tub, means for operating said agitator toeffect first and second washing actions in said water, means forrotating said agitator at high speed for an interval intermediate saidfirst and second washing actions, and means operable during each of saidWashing actions for discharging water into said tub from above the Waterlevel thereof, the improvement comprising:

an open-topped bowl adapted to receive a quantity of detergent and todischarge a mixture of detergent and water into said tub,

means for carrying said bowl on said agitator post structure to receivewater issuing from said discharging means,

manually settable means for preventing entry of water into said bowlduring said first washing operation of said agitator,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during saidsubsequent high speed rotation of said agitator to dispose said bowl insuch relation to said water entry preventing means that said bowlintercepts water issuing from said discharging means, whereby thedetergent content of said bowl will be discharged into said tub.

4. In a clothes washing machine having a washing tub within whichclothes are washed and rinsed in a quantity of water, an agitator havingan upstanding central post structure concentric with said tub, means foroperating said agitator to effect a washing and a rinsing action and forrotating said agitator at high speed intermediate said washing andrinsing actions, and means effective only during the washing and rinsingactions of said agitator to draw water into said agitator and dischargeit therefrom from openings above the operating water level in said tub,the improvement comprising:

an open-topped, annular, lint filter mounted on said agitator post toreceive Water discharging from said agitator openings and to effect aflow of filtered water into said tub,

an annular water conditioner container supported within said lintfilter, said container having a relatively low upstanding wallsurrounding said agitator post, said wall terminating below the openingsthereof,

a cover for said container, said cover having a wall member concentricwith said agitator and spaced radially outward thereof to provide apassage communicating with said lint filter,

a sleeve valve member carried by said cover wall member, said valvemember having a first position within said passage in facing relation tosaid agitator openings to intercept Water issuing therefrom and deflectit into said passage,

means for releasably latching said valve member in said iirst position,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during rapidrotation of said agitator to effect movement of said valve member to asecond position permitting flow of water from said agitator openingsinto said container, whereby a mixture of water and water conditionermaterial may overflow said container wall into said filter for passagetherefrom into said tub.

Y 5. In a clothes washing machine having a washing tub within whichclothes are washed and rinsed in a quantity of water, an agitator havingan upstanding central post structure concentric with said tub, means foroperating said agitator to effect a washing and a rinsing action and forrotating said agitator at high speed, and means effective only duringthe washing and rinsing actions of said agitator to draw water into saidagitator and discharge it into said tub from agitator post open- 9 ingsabove the operating water level in said tub, the improvement comprising:

an annular container structure secured on said agitator post againstaxial movement relative thereto, said container structure accommodatinga quantity of water conditioner material and having an upstanding wallsurrounding said agitator post, said wall terminating below the openingsthereof,

a wall member carried by said container in substantial alignment withsaid first-named container wall and in vertical spaced relation thereto,

a sleeve valve member interposed between said wall members and saidagitator post openings, said valve member having a lirst position infacing relation to said agitator openings to intercept water issuingtherefrom and deect it into said tub,

means for releasably latching said valve member in said first position,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during rapidrotation of said agitator to effect movement of said valve member to asecond position permitting flow of water from said agitator openingsinto said container structure, whereby a mixture of water andconditioner material may flow from said container structure into saidtub.

6. In a clothes washing machine having a tub within which clothes arewashed and rinsed in a body of Water, means for discharging water intosaid tub from above the water level thereof, an agitator having acentral post structure concentric with said tub, means for operatingsaid agitator to effect a washing action in said water and means forsubsequently rotating said agitator at high speed, the improvementcomprising:

an open-topped bowl adapted to receive a quantity of detergent,

means for carrying said bowl on said agitator post structure at a levelto receive water issuing from said discharging means,

a valve mechanism interposed between said discharging means and saidbowl to prevent flow of water into said bowl,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during said highspeed rotation of said agitator to operate said valve means to aposition in which said bowl may receive water issuing from saiddischarging means, whereby the detergent content of said bowl will bewashed therefrom into said basket.

7. In a clothes washing machine having a washing tub within whichclothes are Washed and rinsed in a quantity of water, an agitator havingan upstanding central post structure concentric with said tub, means foroperating said agitator to effect a washing and a rinsing action and forrotating said agitator at high speed for a period intermediate saidwashing and rinsing actions, and means effective only during the washingand rinsing actions of said agitator to draw water into said agitatorand discharge it into said tub from agitator post openings above theoperating water level in said tub, the improvement comprising:

an annular water conditioner container secured on said agitator postagainst axial movement relative thereto, said container having arelatively low upstanding wall concentric with said post and spacedtherefrom to provide an annular passage communicating with said tub,said wall terminating below said agitator openings,

a sleeve valve member interposed within said passage between said wallmember and said agitator post openings,

means for guiding said valve member in axial movement relative to saidagitator post and said dispenser,

means interposed between said container and said l0 sleeve Valve memberfor releasably latching said sleeve valve member in a first position infacing relation to said openings to intercept water issuing therefromand deflect it into said tub,

said latching means being weighted for response to centrifugal forcesengendered during rapid rotation of said -agitator to disengage saidsleeve valve member,

and means responsive to said disengagement to move said sleeve valvemember to a second position permitting flow of water from said agitatoropenings into said container, whereby a mixture of water and conditionermaterial may flow from said container into said tub.

8. The improvement in washing machine water conditioner dispensers asset forth in claim 7, further characterized in that said sleeve valveguiding means comprises a cylindrical wall depending from afcoverstructure for said container, said wall being disposed in telescopingrelation to said sleeve valve.

9. The improvement in washing machine water conditioner dispensers asset forth in claim 7, further characterized in that said sleeve valvelatching means includes a wall member carried by said container insurrounding relation to said sleeve valve, latch members mounted on saidwall members for radial movement relative thereto, and spring meansbiasing said latch members into releasable engagement with said sleevevalve member.

10. The improvement in washing machine water conditioner dispensers asset forth in claim 7, further characterized in that said sleeve valveguiding means comprises a cylindrical wall member carried by saidcontainer in surrounding relation to said sleeve valve, said latchingmeans include radially movable latch members carried by said wall memberfor releasable engagement with said sleeve valve, and said sleeve valvemovement means comprise spring means interposed between said wall memberand said sleeve valve.

ll. In a clothes washing machine having a tub within which clothes arewashed and rinsed in a body of water, an agitator having a central poststructure extending upwardly in said tub, means for oscillating saidagitator for a time period, means for rotating said agitator at highspeed for a time period following said agitator oscillation, and meansoperable following said agitator rotation period for discharging waterinto said tub, the improvement comprising:

a bowl adapted to receive a quantity of water conditioning material fordischarge of a mixture of said material and water into said tub,

means for carrying said bowl on said agitator post structure at alocation to receive water issuing from said discharging means,

means mounted for displacement relative to said bowl for controllingentry of water thereinto,

manually settable means for placing said water controlling means in afirst position to prevent entry of water into said bowl during saidperiod of agitator oscillation,

and means responsive to centrifugal forces engendered during said highspeed rotation of said agitator to actuate said water control means to asecond position to permit said bowl to receive water from said waterdischarging means, whereby to flush said water conditioning materialinto said tub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,712,746 Bochan July 12, 1955 2,909,051 Altorfer Oct. 20, 19593,068,679 Knerr Dec. 18, 1962 3,086,380 Gerhardt Apr. 23, 1963

6. IN A CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING A TUB WITHIN WHICH CLOTHES AREWASHED AND RINSED IN A BODY OF WATER, MEANS FOR DISCHARGING WATER INTOSAID TUB FROM ABOVE THE WATER LEVEL THEREOF, AN AGITATOR HAVING ACENTRAL POST STRUCTURE CONCENTRIC WITH SAID TUB, MEANS FOR OPERATINGSAID AGITATOR TO EFFECT A WASHING ACTION IN SAID WATER AND MEANS FORSUBSEQUENTLY ROTATING SAID AGITATOR AT HIGH SPEED, THE IMPROVEMENTCOMPRISING: AN OPEN-TOPPED BOWL ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A QUANTITY OFDETERGENT, MEANS FOR CARRYING SAID BOWL ON SAID AGITATOR POST STRUCTUREAT A LEVEL TO RECEIVE WATER ISSUING FROM SAID DISCHARGING MEANS, A VALVEMECHANISM INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID DISCHARGING MEANS AND SAID BOWL TOPREVENT FLOW OF WATER INTO SAID BOWL, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TOCENTRIFUGAL FORCES ENGENDERED DURING SAID HIGH SPEED ROTATION OF SAIDAGITATOR TO OPERATE SAID VALVE MEANS TO A POSITION IN WHICH SAID BOWLMAY RECEIVE WATER ISSUING FROM SAID DISCHARGING MEANS, WHEREBY THEDETERGENT CONTENT OF SAID BOWL WILL BE WASHED THEREFROM INTO SAIDBASKET.